Zeuxidia amethystus

 

<> Zeuxidia amethystus  Butler,1865 <>

the Saturn     ผีเสื้อพระเสาร์ธรรมดา

 

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Zeuxidia amethystus
Photo taken at Sabang, Palawan, Philippines.  ~100m a.s.l.

Limited distribution across the southern part of the region. This is another of those species about which little appears to be known. Like other Morphinae it probably prefers the more shaded areas of the forest. There are some differences in appearance of the sexes and the female is considerably larger. It is usually active in the early mornings and late afternoons. It is quite timid and is easily disturbed. Multivoltine.

Synonyms and previously used names:   n/a

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Morphinae - Zeuxidia - amethystus

Regional Distribution:  Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat:  dense montane and bamboo forest, up to ~500m a.s.l.                                     Wingspan:  110-130mm

Flight time:  most of the year, depending on location

Larval Hosts:  Canthiumera robusta (Rubiaceae). Hosts are not fully known and may possibly include some Bambusa species considering the locations where this butterfly is usually found.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - not known to feed on nectar.  Other - mud puddling, rotting fruits

Zeuxidia amethystus
Krabi, Thailand

Canthiumera robusta
Canthiumera robusta, a larval host


Butterflies of Thailand and SE Asia  -  BugsAlive Species Information Sheet
© All images are the copyright of Tim Stratford

 

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